Introduction
Every year, in the most holy city of Sri Jagannatha Puri, located on the east coast of Orissa, the Ratha yatra festival of Bhagavān Sri Jagannātha is organized in accordance with traditional custom with great pomp. On this occasion, the temple servants bring the deities of Sri Jagannatha, Sri Baladeva and Their sister Sri Subhadra outside the temple and seat them each on huge chariots. Devotees pull these chariots and bring them to Gundica Mandira, where Sri Jagannātha, Sri Baladeva, and Sri Subhadra take rest for one week. They then bring them back to Sri Jagannatha Mandira.
Jagannath Temple
Puri is one of the four holy dhamas of India (the others are Dvaraka, Badrinath, and Rameshwaram). It is located 60 km from Bhubaneswar, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Puri is called Sri Purushottama Dhama, the abode of Lord Vishnu on earth. Other names include Sri Kshetra, Nilachala-dhama, Jagannatha-dhama, Yamanika-tirtha, Martya Vaikuntha, Nilagiri, Shankha-kshetra, Dasha-avatara-kshetra, and Narasimha-kshetra. Puri is about 2 km wide and 4 km long.
The name Jagannath literally means “Lord of the Universe.” King Indradyumna first established the temple of Lord Jagannath here on the Nilachal hill, with the deity being installed by Lord Brahma Himself. The present temple was begun by King Chora Ganga Deva and finished by his descendant Ananga Bhima Deva during the 12th century.
The temple is enclosed by two rectangular walls. The outer enclosure, called Meghanada Prachira, covers an area of 10.7 acres and has walls 20 feet high. The inner wall is called Kurma Bheda. These walls were built during the 15th or 16th century.
This temple has the largest kitchen in the world and feeds thousands of devotees daily. The kitchen can prepare food for 100,000 people on a festival day, and feeding 25,000 is not unusual on a regular day. There are 36 traditional communities who render specific hereditary services to the deities, and the temple employs as many as 6,000 priests.
There is a wheel on top of the Jagannath Temple made of an alloy of eight metals. It is called the Nila-Chakra (Blue Wheel). Every day, a different flag is tied to a mast attached to the Nila-Chakra. On every Ekadashi, a lamp is lit on top of the temple near the wheel.
Thirty different smaller temples surround the main temple. The Lord Narasimha Temple, adjacent to the western side of the Mukti-Mandapa, was constructed before the present temple. In front of the main gate stands an 11-meter-high pillar known as the Aruna Stambha. This pillar was once in front of the Sun Temple in Konark and was brought to Puri during the 18th century. The figure on the pillar is Aruna, the charioteer of the Sun God.
In the passage room of this gate is a deity of Lord Jagannath known as Patita Pavana (Savior of the Fallen). This deity is visible from the road, so non-Hindus may take His darshan.
There are four gates:
- The Eastern Simhadwara (Lion Gate)
- The Southern Ashwadwara (Horse Gate)
- The Western Vyaghradwara (Tiger Gate)
- The Northern Hastidwara (Elephant Gate)
Each gate features a carving representing the respective animal. The Lion Gate, which is the main gate, is located on the Grand Roadside.
The main deities in the temple are Lord Jagannath, His brother Lord Baladeva, and His sister Subhadra. Some of the other temples within the temple complex house deities of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Rama Chandra, Sakshi Gopal, Hanuman, Lord Narasimha, Lord Varaha, and others.
History of Jagannath Puri Temple
King Indradyumna was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and was eager to see Him face to face. One day, a Brahmana came to the palace of King Indradyumna and told him about an incarnation of Lord Vishnu named Nila Madhava. The King then sent different Brahmanas to search for Lord Nila Madhava. All of them returned unsuccessful, except for a priest named Vidyapati.
After traveling for some time, Vidyapati arrived in an area inhabited by Sabaras. He stayed at the house of a local chief named Visvavasu. When Vidyapati arrived, Visvavasu was not home, but his daughter Lalita was. Vidyapati stayed there for a while and eventually married Lalita.
Vidyapati noticed some peculiar behavior from his host. Visvavasu would go out every day around noon and return home scented with fragrances like sandalwood, camphor, and musk. Curious, Vidyapati asked his wife about this. She revealed that her father went daily to worship Lord Nila Madhava. Although Visvavasu had instructed her not to tell anyone, Lalita disclosed this secret to her husband.
Vidyapati repeatedly requested to see Nila Madhava. Finally, Visvavasu agreed but bound Vidyapati’s eyes and took him to see the deity. Vidyapati cleverly carried mustard seeds in his cloth and dropped them along the way. When they reached the site, Visvavasu removed the blindfold, and Vidyapati saw the beautiful form of Lord Nila Madhava.
While Visvavasu went to collect forest flowers for worship, Vidyapati stayed behind. At that moment, a crow fell from a tree into a nearby lake and drowned, but it immediately took on a four-armed Vaikuntha form and ascended to the spiritual world. Witnessing this, Vidyapati climbed the tree and was about to jump in. A celestial voice stopped him, saying, “Since you have seen Nila Madhava, you must inform King Indradyumna.”
When Visvavasu returned and began his worship, the Lord spoke to him and said, “I have accepted your offerings of simple forest flowers and roots for many days. Now, I desire the royal worship offered with devotion by King Indradyumna.” Visvavasu felt betrayed by his son-in-law and bound him in anger. However, after Lalita’s repeated pleas, he released him.
Vidyapati returned to King Indradyumna and told him everything. By following the mustard plants that had sprouted along the path, they retraced the route to Nila Madhava. But when they arrived, the deity had disappeared. Enraged, the King besieged the village and arrested Visvavasu. At that moment, a divine voice said, “Release this Sabara. On top of Nila Hill, construct a temple. There I will manifest as Daru-Brahman—the Absolute Truth in a wooden form. You will not see Me again as Nila Madhava.”
King Indradyumna constructed the temple and wished to have it consecrated by Lord Brahma. So, he traveled to Brahmaloka and waited for him. In the meantime, the temple was covered by sand. While the King was away, two other kings—Suradeva and then Galamadhava—ruled the area. King Galamadhava later uncovered the buried temple. When Indradyumna returned, both he and Galamadhava claimed to have built the temple.
A wise old crow residing in a nearby banyan tree, who constantly sang the glories of Lord Rama, testified that King Indradyumna was the original builder and Galamadhava had merely uncovered it. Because of his false claim, Galamadhava was ordered by Brahma to live outside the temple compound, on the western side of Indradyumna Sarovara lake.
King Indradyumna then asked Brahma to consecrate the temple and the sacred area, which became known as Sri Kshetra, said to grant the highest liberation. Brahma explained that Sri Kshetra is manifested by the Supreme Lord’s internal potency and that the Lord manifests Himself here. Hence, Brahma could not perform the installation, but he did install a flag on top of the temple. He declared that anyone who sees this flag and offers prostrated obeisance will easily attain liberation.
Later, the King, despondent over not seeing Nila Madhava again, lay on a bed of kusa grass and vowed to fast unto death. That night, Lord Jagannath appeared to him in a dream and said, “I shall come floating from the sea in My wooden form as Daru-Brahman, at a place called Bakimuhan.” The King went there and saw a massive log of wood bearing divine symbols of a conch, disc, club, and lotus. Many men and elephants tried to move it, but failed.
Again, Lord Jagannath appeared in a dream and instructed the King to bring Visvavasu, the original worshipper, and a golden chariot. As soon as these were brought, Daru-Brahman was easily lifted onto the chariot.
Brahma then performed a yajna (sacrifice) and established a deity of Narasimhadeva on a raised platform, which is believed to be the current Narasimha Deity in the temple complex near the Mukti-Mandapa.
King Indradyumna called the finest sculptors to carve the deities from the sacred wood, but their chisels broke. Then, the Lord Himself came in disguise as an old artist named Ananta Maharana (according to the Narada Purana, this was Vishvakarma, the divine architect). He requested to work behind closed doors for 21 days. After 14 days, all sounds ceased. Worried, the King forced the doors open and found the three deities—Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra—partially carved with unfinished hands and feet.
Grief-stricken, the King fasted again. But Lord Jagannath appeared in a dream and said, “I eternally reside in Nilachala as Daru-Brahman. I descend into this material world with My abode in 24 deity forms. I have no material hands and feet, yet with My transcendental senses, I accept all offerings from My devotees. Your breaking of the promise is part of My divine pastime.”
The Lord continued, “Those whose eyes are anointed with the salve of love will always see Me as Shyamasundara, holding a flute.” The King then prayed that the descendants of the sculptor family should continue to build the three Rathas (chariots). He also wished that Visvavasu’s lineage, who originally worshipped Nila Madhava, would continue to serve the Lord. They would be called Dayitas. The descendants of Vidyapati from his Brahmana wife were to perform deity worship, while the descendants from his Sabari wife Lalita were to cook for the Lord and be called Suyaras.
King Indradyumna also requested that the temple doors be closed for only 3 hours each day. Lastly, he asked that he have no descendants, so that no one could claim ownership of the temple.
According to Narada Purana (Uttara Khanda 52.123), Lord Narayana told Lakshmi Devi:
“In that great abode known as Purushottama-Kshetra, rarely attained in all three worlds, the Kesava deity fashioned by the Lord Himself resides. One who merely sees this deity will easily attain My abode.”
In Skanda Purana (Utkala Khanda), it is mentioned that the sacred land of Sri Kshetra spreads across 10 yojanas (approximately 128 km or 80 miles) and is surrounded by golden sands. Utkala (ancient Odisha) is considered the holiest place on earth and is divided into four sacred regions, symbolizing Lord Vishnu’s weapons:
- Shankha Kshetra (Puri town)
- Padma Kshetra (Konark)
- Chakra Kshetra (Bhubaneswar)
- Gada Kshetra (Jajapur, where the Viraja Devi temple is located)
Puri is known as Shankha Kshetra because its geographical shape resembles a conch shell. The Puri-Kshetra covers five krosa (a traditional unit), three of which are under the ocean and two on land. This land is adorned with golden sands and a blue mountain, atop which the Lord resides in His arca-vigraha form beside the sea.
Puri Dham is known by several names: Purushottama-Kshetra, Sri Kshetra, Nilachala Dham, Jagannatha-Dham, Yamanika-Tirtha, Martya Vaikuntha, Nilagiri, Shankha-Kshetra, Dasa-Avatara-Kshetra, and Narasimha-Kshetra. The glories of Sri Purushottama-Kshetra Jagannatha Puri Dham are mentioned in many scriptures, including the Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, Vamadeva Samhita, Kapila Samhita, Padma Purana, and Niladri Purana.
Rath Yatra
In the month of Jyaistha, the birthday of the Lord is celebrated as Snan Yatra. The Lord and His siblings are brought out amidst the sound of loud bugles, music, and grand celebrations. As per tradition, they are adorned with floral crowns, covered from public view, and bathed with one hundred and eight pots of water drawn from the Suna Kuan (Golden Well), located within the temple complex. After the bath, the deities are dressed in Hastibesha (the garb of an elephant) for public darshan.
This ritual is deeply rooted in popular legend. It is believed that once a renowned Hindu scholar was invited by the Gajapati ruler to his court. The king also invited the scholar to accompany him for a visit to SriMandir, but the scholar refused, claiming that he worshipped only Lord Ganesha. To his surprise, during the visit, Lord Jagannath appeared to him in the form of the beloved elephant god, Ganesha. The Hastibesha thus symbolizes the Lord’s love for each of His devotees, regardless of their form of worship.
It is believed that the deities catch a cold after this elaborate bath and therefore retire from public view for fifteen days to recover. This period is known as Anavasara. During this time, the Netroutsav is performed—where the eyes are painted onto the freshly bathed bodies of the Lords. The next day marks the beginning of the Rath Yatra.
READ MORE: About the 2025 Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra
“When the sacred images are at length brought forth and placed upon their chariots, thousands fall on their knees and bow their foreheads in the dust. The vast multitude shouts with one throat and surging backwards and forwards drag the wheeled edifices down the broad streets towards the country house of Lord Jagannath.”
— Imperial District Gazetteer, Puri, 1886
A rath (chariot) is built for each of the three deities—Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra. Each chariot houses the main deity along with nine others, including depictions of nine sages, symbolizing the nine planets in the universe.
Each rath can be recognized by its specific name, colors, charioteer, horses, and even the reins used to control them.
The largest chariot, standing at forty-five feet tall, is the red and yellow Nandighosa, belonging to Lord Jagannath. It alone takes two months to construct. The horses Shankha, Shveta, Balahaka, and Haridasva have the honor of pulling the Lord’s chariot, with Maruti serving as the Lord’s charioteer.
The festivities begin with the Chera Panhara, in which the Gajapati ruler, as a humble servant of the Lord, sweeps the platform of each rath before the procession begins. Devotees then pull these enormous chariots three kilometers down the main avenue to the “Garden Home” of the deities—the house of their aunt, Gundicha. The siblings stay there for a week.
During this time, it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi, upset with her husband Lord Jagannath for leaving her behind, damages His chariot in anger. This ritual is known as Hera Panchami, where hera means “to look for” or “to find.”
After the stay, the three siblings leave their aunt’s house and begin their return journey, called Bahuda Yatra. They are joyously welcomed back to Srimandir by countless devotees. On their return, the deities take the form of Sunabesha, adorned in gold ornaments made from offerings by devotees. This short darshan symbolizes their homecoming.
However, the Lord of the Universe is not immediately allowed to enter His home. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi, still upset, shuts the door and refuses to let Him in. Lord Jagannath then pleads for forgiveness, assuring Her of His devotion. After persistent appeals, the Goddess finally relents and allows Him to enter.
The Yatra concludes with Niladri Bije, marking the deities’ return to the Garbha-Griha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple.In 1825, around 2.25 lakh pilgrims visited the Puri temple. Nearly 190 years later, in 2015, during the Nabakalebara celebrations, a record 17.5 lakh devotees participated in the festivities at Puri.
